2003 Smart Fortwo Coupe — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 984 MOT tests, the 2003 Smart Fortwo Coupe recorded a 73.9% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2003 Fortwo Coupe comes out 1.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests against 10.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 111 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 16.7% versus 23.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 28.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.1% | 188 |
| 2 | Visibility | 10.6% | 104 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.8% | 87 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 81 |
| 5 | Brakes | 7.8% | 77 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 59 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 111 |
| 2 | Washers | 85 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 84 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 70 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 50 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 39 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 35.5% | 349 |
| 2 | Tyres | 27.0% | 266 |
| 3 | Suspension | 24.8% | 244 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.2% | 159 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.0% | 157 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.2% | 110 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 259 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 376 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 254 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 42 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 273 | 25.3% |
| 2022 | 242 | 26.9% |
| 2023 | 191 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 153 | 22.9% |
| 2025 | 125 | 28.8% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Fortwo Coupe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (10.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (8.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2003 Smart Fortwo Coupes pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 984 2003 Smart Fortwo Coupe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Smart Fortwo Coupe?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.1% of tests, followed by visibility (10.6%).
Does the 2003 Fortwo Coupe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.9% in the 30-60k band to 16.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 984 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.